Method and apparatus for removing interlocking fastener elements from a slide fastener chain

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for removing interlocking fastener elements from a slide fastener chain at predetermined intervals so as to provide alternate element-free and element-containing sections, the element-free or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;space&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; sections being utilized for the assembling on the fastener chain of sliders and end stops. Means are provided for severing the interengaged parts of a length of fastener elements on opposed stringer tapes, which means are vertically disposed in criss-cross relation to means for removing the residual element debris resulting from the severing of said elements. The latter means include a pair of grippers movable towards and away from each other and capable of holding said length of elements first loosely at their connecting portions and then firmly at their arm portions to retain said elements against displacement during the severing thereof.

baited States Patent [191 Shimai Dec. 10, 1974 Inventor: Hideo Shimai,Kurobe, Japan Yoshida Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan Nov. 20, 1973Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 28, 1972 Japan 47-119131 us. Cl.29/408, 29/2075 D inner 823p 11/00, B23p 19/04 a Field of Search 29/408,207.5 D, 207.5 R

Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E.Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [5 7] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for removing interlocking fastener elements from a slidefastener chain at predetermined intervals so as to provide alternateelementfree and element-containing sections, the element-free or spacesections being utilized for the assembling on the fastener chain ofsliders and end stops. Means are provided for severing the interengagedparts of a length of fastener elements on opposed stringer tapes, whichmeans are vertically disposed in criss-cross relation to means forremoving the residual element debris resulting from the severing of saidelements. The latter means include a pair of grippers movable towardsand away from each other and capable of holding. said length of elementsfirst loosely at their connecting portions and then firmly at their armportions to retain said elements against displacement during thesevering thereof.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING INTERLOCKING FASTENER ELEMENTS FROM ASLIDE FASTENER CHAIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto the provision of a slide fastener stringer which has end portionsdevoid of interlocking fastener elements, more particularly to a methodand apparatus for removing fastener elements at predetermined intervalsfrom a slide fastener chain of substantially endless length therebyproviding therein alternate element-containing and element-freesections.

To simplify and facilitate the assembling and finishing of slidefasteners, it is nowadays the common practice of the slide fastenermanufacturers to work on a continuous chain of slide fastener stringerscarrying thereon uninterrupted, interengaged rows of interlockingelements rather than on separated individual fastener stringers. It hasbeen the usual practice to provide element-free of space sections in thefastener chain at predetermined intervals thereon for mounting slidersand end stops and thereafter to cut the chain into individual productlength.

There have been proposed various methods and apparatus to this end forremoving a length of interlocking elements from a slide fastener chain,but none of them have been'found completely satisfactory because theelements were removed forcibly from their carrier tapes to which theyare firmly secured. Difficulties have been experienced in cutting theelements off exactlyat those portions which are coupled together, andfailing this would often cause damage to the woven or sewn threads oreven the tape web. This was more critical in the case of a fastenerchain carrying rows of continuous fastener elements in a coil ormeandering form having reinforcing cords inserted between or braids laidover elements, where such cords or braids are susceptible to damage incontact with the cutter blades. If the elements were cut not completelyoff or not at the proper position, it would render the subsequentremoval of element debris so much difficult. These difficulties havebeen a bottleneck to automation of the space-forming operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With a view to eliminating the abovedifficulties encountered with the conventional methods and appara tus,the present invention has for its object to provide a novel method forremoving a desired length of interlocking fastener elements from acontinuous slide fastener chain without any damage to the woven or sewnthreads, reinforcing cords, braids or the like which are used to securethe elements to the carrier tapes and which are hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as element securing members, and an apparatus foreffectively carrying this method into practice.

lt is a more specific object of the invention to provide a novel methodand apparatus for removal of a length of fastener elements which ensuresthat the elements to be removed are held in correct position relative tothe path of a cutting or severing means so as to cut them off exactly atthose portions which are coupled together and further that the removalof the remaining portions or debris of the elements is effected withutmost ease, resulting in the provision of clean elementfree or spacesections as desired on the fastener chain.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide an improvedspace-forming apparatus incorporating the operating parts which arearranged to function in accurate cooperating relation such that thespaceforming operation is rendered fully automatic and hence atincreased rate of speed.

It is still another specific object of the invention to provide a novelspace-forming method and apparatus which incorporates means for grippingthe fastener elements exactly at their arm portions and retaining thesame in position against displacement during the severing of theircoupling heads so that the elements may be cut off precisely at theirinterengaged head portions,

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear clearfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example a preferredembodiment and in which like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a segment ofa slide fastener chain provided with an element-free or space section inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a space-forming apparatus embodying theinvention;

F IG. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the apparatus ofFIG. 2; v

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;and

FIGS. 5a through 512 inclusive are sectional elevations of the operatingparts of the apparatus of FIG. 2 (FIG. 3), and are utilized toillustrate the different operating phases that the apparatus assumesduring the removal of fastener elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with theinvention, there is provided a method of removing a length of fastenerelements from a slide fastener chain consisting of a pair of opposedstringer tapes carrying thereon uninterrupted rows of continuousfastener elements in interlocked relation, element-securing membersaffixing said rows of elements to the respective tapes, each of saidelements having a coupling head, two arm portions and connectingportions merging into adjoining elements, which method comprises thesteps of:

a. anchoring the coupling head portions of a length of interlockedelements into a position registering with the path of a severing means;

b. loosely gripping the connecting portions of said length of elements;

c. biasing the element-securing members inwardly along the arm portionsof said length of elements thereby to expose the latter portions;

d. firmly gripping the thus exposed arm portions so as to retain saidlength of elements in position against displacement;

e. severing the interlocked coupling head portions of said length ofelements; and

f. pulling said arm portions, while being gripped, outwardly apartfromtheir respective tapes to remove the remaining element debris.

Referring now to the drawings and FIG. 1 in particular, their is shown asegment of a slide fastener chain F which consists of a pair of opposedstringer tapes T each carrying along their respective inner edges a rowof interlocking fastener elements E. More specifically, the fastenerchain F is provided with a predetermined length of an element-free orspace sections G alternating with an element-containing section Es. Thiselement-free section is utilized for the assembling of a slider and endstops on the fastener chain F in the well known manner.

The provision of the element-free of space section G is effected by theapparatus which is shown by way of example only in the drawings andwhich is tailored to carry the above-described method into practice.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, there is shown a space-forming apparatuswhich comprises a supporting table 11 on which are mounted the variousoperating parts including a guiding means 12 for guiding a slidefastener chain F thereon during the movement of the latter to aspace-forming station, an element severing means 13 for severing alength'of fastener elements E, and an element-debris removing means 14for removing residual debris of fastener elementsE resulting from thesevering thereof.

The guiding means 12 comprises a pair of guide blocks 15a, 15b disposedon opposite sides of the space-forming station defined at the elementsevering means 13. Each guide block includes a pressure pad 17havingdownwardly projecting abutments 18 extending longitudinally inparallel with the path of the fastener chain F and defining therebetweenan element guide channel 19, and a supporting block 20 underlying thepressure pad 17 and having a vertically extending guide slot 21 and asplitting member 22 accommodated therein and adapted with its tip end22a to intrude between and split open the opposed inner edges of the twostringer tapes T along which are secured the rows of fastener elementsE. The guiding means 12 thus constructed serves to hold the fastenerchain F flat in correst horizontal alignment between the oppositelydisposed guide blocks 15a, 1512 when the chain F is advancedintermittently by a feeding and positioning means (not shown) onto thespace-forming station prior to the activation of the severing means 13and the element-debris removing means 14. The fastener chain F is fedwith its back side down, viz. with its front side carrying the elementsE facing the pressure pad 17 and is held in sandwiched relation betweenthe pressure pad 17, splitting member 22 and supporting block 20.

The severing means 13 comprises a punch carrying anvil 23 and a dieblock 24 that are disposed in vertically opposed relation as best shownin FIG. 3. The anvil 23 has mounted therein a vertically reciprocablepunch 25 which has a bottom end 26 in abutting engagement with a pusherrod 27. The rod 27 is connected to and vertically moved by a suitableactuating means not shown. Raising the pusher rod 27 causes the punch 25to move upwardly relative to the anvil 23 against tension of a springmember 28 accommodated within the anvil 23, and lowering the rod 27allows the spring 28 to restore thereby urging the punch 25 intonormally retracted position.

The die block 24, which is located above the anvil 23 according to theillustrated embodiment, is secured to a supporting plate 29 and isvertically movable together therewith. This vertical movement iseffected by a pusher rod 30 in a manner similar to the aforesaid pusherrod 27. The die block 24 is provided with a vertical die slot 31 andwith a spring-loaded die member 32 movable therein. The die member 32has an upper end 33 connected to a spring member 34 accommodated in theblock 23 and is normally urged downwardly toward the punch 25. I

The punch 25 is provided at its tip end with bladed edges 25a which aredimensioned to fit into the die slot 31 and which constitute with thelatter a coacting die cutter for severing the coupling head portions Eaof the fastener elements E. The punch 25 is positioned between andcontiguous with the splitting members 22 in the opposed guide blocks15a, 1512 such that the bladed edges 25a of the punch 25 normally lieflush with the tip end 22a of each splitting member 22. The arrangementbeing that the punch 25 can readily intrude between the element-carryingedges of the opposed stringer tapes T which have been split open by thesplitting members 22.

The element-debris removing means 14 comprises a pair of horizontallyopposed grippers 35a, 35b which are positioned in criss-cross relationto the vertically disposed severing means 13, and an actuating means formoving these grippers toward and away from each other. Each of thegrippers 35a, 35b consists of an elongated upper jaw 36 and a similarlower jaw 37' each having at one end inwardly directed claw 38 withwhich to grip the fastener elements E as better seen in FIG. 5. Both ofthese jaws are mounted coaxially on a pin 39 extending parallel with thepath of the fastener chain F. H

The lower jaw 37 is slidable along a guide groove (not shown) in thetable 11, and is provided at its bottom surface with a rack 40 engagingwith a first sector gear 41 connected eccentrically to a driving rod 42,whereby the gripper 35a (35b) is moved horizontally towards and awayfrom the severing means 13. At the opposite end of the upper jaw 36 isprovided a cam roll 43 which engages with a cam .plate 44 slidably alonga guide groove (not shown) in the table 11. The cam plate 44 is providedat its bottom with a rack 45 engag- I ing with a second sector gear 46connected eccentrically to a driving rod 47, whereby the upper jaw 36'is imparted with a pivotal motion about the pin 39. Designated at 48 isa spring member adapted to bias the upper jaw 36 normally downwardly.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5a through 5h inclusive which illustratea complete cycle of operation required to accomplish the removal of adesired length of fastener elements E in accordance with the invention.

In the first phase of the cycle shown in FIG. 5a, the fastener chain Fon entry to the space-forming station is split open along the abuttinginner longitudinal edges of the two opposed stringer tapes T by thesplitting member 22 in each guiding means 12, whereupon the punch 25intrudes between the thus split edges of the tapes T, with the bladededges 25a abutting against the lower faces of the coupling head portionsEa of fastener elements E. This is followed by the second phase whereinthe die block 24 descends together with the die member 32 until theycome into abutting engagement with the upper faces of the coupling headportions Ea. The fastener elements E are thus retained firmly inposition, being sandwiched between the punch 25 and the die block 24, asshown in FIG. 5b. The second phase of the cycle further includesrotation of the first sector gears 4ll in a direction to cause thegrippers 35a, 35b to move inwardly toward each other to a positionwherein their jaws 36, 37 can grip the connecting portions E of thefastener elements E as still shown in FIG. b. The third phase thencommences with rotation of the second sector gear 46 to move the camplate 44 inwardly until the cam roll 43 rides on a first cam face 44a,whereupon the upper jaw 36 tilts down about the pin 39 so that its claw38 lands upon the upper faces of the connecting portions Ec of fastenerelements E and cooperates with the lower jaw 37 in loosely gripping theconnecting portions Be as shown in FIG. 5c. This is followed by thefourth phase of the cycle in which the grippers 35a, 35b are movedfurther inwardly by the rotation of the first sector gear 41 until theclaws 38 of the respective jaws 36, 37 come approximately midpart of thearms Eb of fastener elements E shifting sewing threads S and otherelement-securing members inwardly towards the center of the interengagedelements E, as shown in FIG. 5d. The fifth phase takes place withfurther rotation of the second sector gear 46 to move the cam plate 44further inwardly until the cam roll 43 leaves the first cam face 44a andrides onto a second cam face 44]; greater in height than the first camface 44a, whereupon the upper jaw 36 is brought into more intimatecontact with the fastener elements E so that the claws 38 on both upperand lower jaws bite into the upper and lower arm portions Eb therebyfirmly gripping the fastener elements E within the space-forming stationand thus retaining the same in position against displacement during thesubsequent element severing operation, as shown in FIG. See. The sixthphase now begins with the upward stroke of the punch 25, when its bladedtop edges a cut the interengaged coupling head portions Ea of thefastener elements E and take them away into the die slot 31 as seen inFIG. 5f. Upon completion of this severing operation, the first sectorgear 41 is arranged to rotate in the opposite direction so that thegrippers 35a, 35b associated therewith are now retracted outwardly awayfrom each other, taking with them all of the remaining element debrisincluding arm portions Eb and connecting portions Ec, apart from theelement-securing members that have secured the elements E to the tapesT, as shown in FIG. 5g. This constitutes the seventh phase of theoperating cycle which includes reverse rotation of the second sectorgear 46 to release the cam roll 43 from the cam faces 44b and 44arespectively so that the upper jaw 36 moves upwardly apart from theelement debris, causing the latter to drop. Simultaneously with this,the eighth or final phase of the cycle takes place wherein the die block24 and the punch 25 are moved vertically away from each other andretracted to their respective initial positions. The respectivepositions that the severing means I3 and element-debris removing means14 assume upon completion of the space-forming cycle are illustrated inFIG. 5h which figure corresponds to FIG. 511, wherein these operatingparts are on stand-by to repeat the above cycle of operation when thenext section of the fastener chain F is advanced into the spaceformingstation.

There may be provided air nozzles or suction devices to ensure completeremoval of the residual debris of fastener elements E from thespace-forming station in the apparatus it).

Having thus described the invention, it will be understood that variouschanges or modifications may be made in the specific form andconstruction herein advanced, without departing from the scope of theappended claims. As for an example, the operating positions of the dieand punch may be exchanged so that the punch is located above the die.As for another, the gripper actuating means including the sector gearsand racks may be substituted by suitable cam, lever or link mechanisms.In addition, the type of slide fasteners to which the principles of theinvention can be applied may be a so-called woven fastener other thansuch fastener illustrated herein which has rows of interlocking elementssecured by sewing threads to their respective stringer tapes.

I claim:

1. A method of removing a length of fastener elements from a slidefastener chain consisting of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carryingthereon uninterrupted rows of continuous fastener elements ininterlocked relation, element-securing members affixing said rows ofelements to the respective tapes, each of said elements having acoupling head, two arm portions and connecting portions merging intoadjoining elements, which method comprises the steps of: v

a. anchoring the coupling head portions of a length of interlockedelementsinto a position registering with the path of a severing means;

b. loosely gripping the connecting portions of said length of elements;I

c. biasing the element-securing members inwardly along the arm portionsof said length of elements thereby to expose the latter portions;

d. firmly gripping the thus exposed arm portions so as to retain saidlength of elements in position against displacement;

e. severing the interlocked coupling head portions of said length ofelements; and

f. pulling said arm portions, while being gripped, outwardly apart fromtheir respective tapes to remove the remaining element debris.

2. An apparatus for removing fastener elements from a slide fastenerchain consisting of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying thereonuninterrupted rows of continuous fastener elements in interlockedrelation, element-securing members affixing said rows of elements to therespective tapes, each of said elements having a coupling head, two armportions and connecting portions merging into adjoining elements, whichapparatus comprises a severing means including vertically movablecutting punch and coacting die for severing a length of fastenerelements, said severing means being disposed vertically relative to theplane of the fastener chain, an element-debris removing means includinga pair of grippers for removing residual debris of fastener elementsresulting from the severing thereof, said removing means beinghorizontally disposed in crisscross relation to said severing means, anactuating means for moving said pair of grippers horizontally towardsand away from each. other, a splitting means for splitting open theabutting inner edges of the opposed stringer tapes, said punch havingbladed edges lying normally flush with said splitting member, a cammeans for causing said grippers to hold the said length of fastenerelements first loosely at the connecting portions thereof and thenfirmly at the arm portions to retain said length of elements againstdisplacement during the severing thereof.

3. An apparatus for removing fastener elements from a slide fastenerchain consisting of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying thereonuninterrupted rows of continuous fastener elements in interlockedrelation, element-securing members affixing said rows of elements to therespective tapes, each of said elements having a coupling head, two armportions and connecting portions merging into adjoining elements, whichapparatus comprises a guiding means including oppositely disposed guideblocks for guiding the movement of the fastener chain therebetween andholding the same in horizontal alignment, a severing means includingvertically movable cutting punch and coacting die for severing a lengthof fastener elements, said severing means being disposed verticallyrelative to the plane of the fastener chain, an element-debris removingmeans including a pair of grippers for removing residual debris offastener elements resulting from the severing thereof,

said removing means being horizontally disposed in criss-cross relationto said severing means, an actuating means for moving said pair ofgrippers horizontally towards and away from each other, a splittingmember provided in each of said guide blocks for splitting open theabutting inner edges of the opposed stringer tapes, said punch havingbladed edges lying normally flush with said splitting member, a cammeans for causing said grippers to hold the said length of fastenerelements first loosely at the connecting portions thereof and thenfirmly at the arm portions to retain said length of elements againstdisplacement during the severing thereof.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating meanscomprises a sector gear engaging with a rack provided in each of saidgrippers. l

1. A method of removing a length of fastener elements from a slidefastener chain consisting of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carryingthereon uninterrupted rows of continuous fastener elements ininterlocked relation, element-securing members affixing said rows ofelements to the respective tapes, each of said elements having acoupling head, two arm portions and connecting portions merging intoadjoining elements, which method comprises the steps of: a. anchoringthe coupling head portions of a length of interlocked elements into aposition registering with the path of a severing means; b. looselygripping the connecting portions of said length of elements; c. biasingthe element-securing members inwardly along the arm portions of saidlength of elements thereby to expose the latter portions; d. firmlygripping the thus exposed arm portions so as to retain sAid length ofelements in position against displacement; e. severing the interlockedcoupling head portions of said length of elements; and f. pulling saidarm portions, while being gripped, outwardly apart from their respectivetapes to remove the remaining element debris.
 2. An apparatus forremoving fastener elements from a slide fastener chain consisting of apair of opposed stringer tapes carrying thereon uninterrupted rows ofcontinuous fastener elements in interlocked relation, element-securingmembers affixing said rows of elements to the respective tapes, each ofsaid elements having a coupling head, two arm portions and connectingportions merging into adjoining elements, which apparatus comprises asevering means including vertically movable cutting punch and coactingdie for severing a length of fastener elements, said severing meansbeing disposed vertically relative to the plane of the fastener chain,an element-debris removing means including a pair of grippers forremoving residual debris of fastener elements resulting from thesevering thereof, said removing means being horizontally disposed incriss-cross relation to said severing means, an actuating means formoving said pair of grippers horizontally towards and away from eachother, a splitting means for splitting open the abutting inner edges ofthe opposed stringer tapes, said punch having bladed edges lyingnormally flush with said splitting member, a cam means for causing saidgrippers to hold the said length of fastener elements first loosely atthe connecting portions thereof and then firmly at the arm portions toretain said length of elements against displacement during the severingthereof.
 3. An apparatus for removing fastener elements from a slidefastener chain consisting of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carryingthereon uninterrupted rows of continuous fastener elements ininterlocked relation, element-securing members affixing said rows ofelements to the respective tapes, each of said elements having acoupling head, two arm portions and connecting portions merging intoadjoining elements, which apparatus comprises a guiding means includingoppositely disposed guide blocks for guiding the movement of thefastener chain therebetween and holding the same in horizontalalignment, a severing means including vertically movable cutting punchand coacting die for severing a length of fastener elements, saidsevering means being disposed vertically relative to the plane of thefastener chain, an element-debris removing means including a pair ofgrippers for removing residual debris of fastener elements resultingfrom the severing thereof, said removing means being horizontallydisposed in criss-cross relation to said severing means, an actuatingmeans for moving said pair of grippers horizontally towards and awayfrom each other, a splitting member provided in each of said guideblocks for splitting open the abutting inner edges of the opposedstringer tapes, said punch having bladed edges lying normally flush withsaid splitting member, a cam means for causing said grippers to hold thesaid length of fastener elements first loosely at the connectingportions thereof and then firmly at the arm portions to retain saidlength of elements against displacement during the severing thereof. 4.An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating meanscomprises a sector gear engaging with a rack provided in each of saidgrippers.